Ascension Day

The following is taken from:

• The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Anglican Church of Canada, Anglican Book Centre, Toronto © The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, 1962, Used without permission.
• The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Edited by Francis Burgess, originally produced by the Plainchant and Mediaeval Music Society, Royal School of Church Music, Dorking.

Antiphon: Acts 1 Ye Men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? Alleluia: In like manner as ye have seen him going up into heaven, so shall he come again. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Verse: Ibid And while they looked steadfastly towards heaven, as he went up: behold, two men stood by them in white apparel

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Repeat the Antiphon Ye Men of Galilee, ...

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 86-87

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Page 201

The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Spirit had given commandments unto the Apostles whom he had chosen: to whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing unto them during forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: and, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven, as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Acts 1:1-11 NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Pages 201-202

Alleluia. Alleluia. Psalm 47 God is gone up with a merry noise: and the Lord with the sound of the trumpet. Alleluia. Christ to the heaven ascending, led captivity captive: and gave gifts unto men. Alleluia.

Jesus appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be condemned. And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out evil spirits; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.

Mark 16:14-20 NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Pages 202-203

Psalm 47 God is gone up with a merry noise: and the Lord with the sound of the trumpet, alleluia.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 86-87

Upon Ascension Day, and until the Eve of Whitsunday inclusive.

Through thy most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who after his most glorious Resurrection manifestly appeared to all his Apostles, and in their sight ascended up into heaven to prepare a place for us; that where he is, thither we might also ascend, and reign with him in glory. Therefore with Angels, etc.

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Page 80

Psalm 68 Sing ye to the Lord, who ascended to the heaven of heavens: to the sun-rising, alleluia.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 86-87

Morning Prayer

Evening Prayer

For the Ferial Days

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Pages xxviii and xxix